Metal edged box part



J. M. SHIELDS METAL EDGED BOX PART Filed March 16' Patented June 23, 1936 OFFICE:

, METAL .EDGED Box'r R'r John M. Shields, Chicago, 111., assignor to F. H.

Noble & 00., Chicago,

Illinois 111., a. corporation of 7 Application March 16, 1935, Serial No. 11,443

3 Claims (Cl. 220-73) In the manufacture of small, ornamental boxes of sheet metal, such as jewelry boxes and similar boxes, it is desirable that the meeting thin edges of the base and cover box members shall be reinforced and ornamented to stiffen the box and provide a substantial and durable as well as sightly joint between the parts.

Such boxes are usually constructed with spring hinges which close the top with a sharp snap action tending to batter the meeting edges of the top and bottom and cut through any fabric covering which may be turned over the edges. In consequence of this difficulty, the edges have sometimes been rolled or beaded, or equipped with supplementary members of 7, some form adapted to provide a wider and more substantial joint.

It is the object of my invention to provide sheet metal box members of the type described with reinforcing strips of novel construction which shall be adapted to protect and strengthen the edges of the box members and be economical and l easy to apply, and which will serve most efficiently the structural purposes for which they were devised and also enhance the appearance of the box. With these objectsand purposes in view I have designed and invented the novel sheet-metal box structure hereinafter described in detail, the essential elements of my invention being more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective of a box embodying my invention; 7

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front view of a portion of the box;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the portion of the box shown in Fig. 4 on a plane indicated by the dotted line 3-3 of said Fig. 4, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary face view of a blank from which the reinforcing edge. member is formed.

Like reference characters indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawing.

For purposes of .explanation I have shownmy invention applied to a covered sheet-metal box of well known design and proportions, having a rectangular bottom member I and a cover member 2 connected thereto by a snap hinge 3, both parts being covered with facing sheets marked respectively l and 2 and the parts being provided with the usual ornamental linings and display pad.

Describing now the parts of the box to which my invention more particularly relates, the edge of each box member is equipped with a reinforcing strip 4, which is formed from a blank of sheet metal, such as illustrated in Fig. 4. It will be noted that along one marginal portion, marked 5, the blank is'uncut, while on the other it is formed with a line of prongs or teeth 6, and that 5 intermediate the base of each tooth and the marginal portion 5 of the strip there is formed a perforation l,in the present instance of triangular shape,the perforations together forming an intermediate line or zone of perforations. 10 In the finished box the zone of perforations 1 enables the intermediate portion of the strip to be bent so as to closely engage the contiguous outer face of the box edge (and facing sheet) along its edge, notwithstanding there may be some 15 slight irregularity in thickness along the edge of the box, due to irregularity in the stretching of the facing fabric, or in the thickness of the sheet-metal of the box part, while the teeth 6 are bent over the edge and clamped against the 20 opposite, inner face of the box member adjacent its edge, the provision of separated independent teeth further conducing to a perfect clamping action at all points.

It will be observed that the outer faces of the 25 narrow closely spaced teeth of the box provide an approximately continuous and substantial, as well as ornamental fiat meeting face for the box member along the upper edge of the box sides, and that the construction described conduces to 30 the usefulness of the box and also enhances its attractiveness and consequently its desirability for the purposes for which boxes of this character are designed. Moreover, this particular construction, especially in connection with the line 5 of perforations, is useful in enabling the reinforcing strip to be bent around the corners of a rectangular, or approximately rectangular'box without breaking or unduly distorting the strip, the spacing between the teeth and the perfora- 40 tions allowing the metal to bend and accommodate itself to relatively sharp bends between the sides of the box member.

While I have described my invention as applied to box members formed of sheet metal, for which it was particularly devised, it may also be used in the construction of boxes of other material, as celluloid, or hard rubber or even boxes constructed of paper sufficiently stiff and firm enough for thepurpose.

I claim:

1. In jewelry boxes and similar boxes, a box member reinforced around its edge with a continuous sheet metal strip, said strip having a marginal portion on the outer face of said box member and a row of narrow closely-spaced teeth bent over the edge of said member and clamped against the inner face thereof, the outer faces of said teeth at the edge of the box member forming a cross-slitted fiat meeting face for said box member.

2. In jewelry boxes and similar boxes, at box member reinforced around its edge with a con tinuous sheet metal strip, said strip having an uncut portion on the outer face of said box member and an intermediate perforated zone on said outer face adjacent the edge of the box member and a row of narrow closely-spacedteeth bent over the edge of said member and clamped against the inner face thereof, the outer faces of said teeth at the edge of the box member against the inner face thereof, the outer faces of said teeth at the edge of the box member forming a cross-slitted flat meeting face for said box member JOHN M. SHIELDS. 

